The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-02
A FINE WINGED RACER.
Death OF a Carrier Pigeon That Had Made
an Excellent Record.

| >
ago. The finder did not know carrier
from any other kind of pigeon, but as
he was idly examining the bird he
noticed little tag attached to the
feathers. On this was written these
figures: 056S. and the words. IF caught
or shot, report this number to Starr,
New York" 1t was good deal OF
mystery still to the finder, but after
speaking to a few friends about it, he
found one who knew that the bird was
a carrier and had been sent out on a
race. A message was accordingly sent
to starr. New York." rs requested on
the tag. ''Starr, New York" is little
woman who devotes herself to the inter
ests of pigeon flying. and keeps the run
of about all the birds in this country.
To find her one has to climb tour dark
flights to the top of rickety old build
ing at the corner of Cortlandt and
Washington streets. As she is an en-
thusiast upon the subject. visitors who
want to learn any thing about pigeons
find ready welcome and no little in
| formation.
All pigeon flyers, and their number
is increasing every year, send her ac-
counts of their birds. and in the event
of race the birds themselves are some
times sent also to be registered. But
as rule she is notified as soon as a
bird is Matched, and she makes such
entries in her ponderous record books
as fix that birds identity until he dies
of old age or by shot from careless
hunter. When she received word that
0563 had been picked up dead, she
referred to her books and found that
one of the most remarkable birds in
the land had been lost. To be sure.
all the pigeon flyers had given this bird
up months ago, for she had not been
heard of since last October, but no one
knew what became of him. The bird
was owned by VIM. Bennert. of Newark,
N. j., one of the oenters of pigeon flying
interest. The bird had not been
named. 1t was blue male and was
Matched in the spring of 1886. 1t had
been in three races, ip one of which it
was among the six that made the best
record to Newark. and the feat was
second only to the best young fly bird
in America. The best record was made
by Philadelphia pigeons in 1888. In
the case of 0563 the start was made at
Liberty, Va, from which place to
Newark it is 368 miles, air line. The
birds were liberated at twenty-five
minutes past six on the morning of
October 1, 1886. and the first bird to
report at its loft in Newark arrived at
fourteen minutes past four p. m. of the
same day. A few minutes later 0563
came in, and his average speed for tho
journey was 1,0S9 yards . minute
About week later this bird. with three
Others. was taken to Morgantown.
N. c., 527 miles from home. None of
them was heard from until Mrs. Starr
learned the death of 0563.
Mrs. Starr thinks that pigeon flying
has come to be a standard gentlemen's
sport in America. At present the
amusement is free from all objections
bic features, and as each year passes
Improvements are made in the method
of keeping the records of the birds.
New books have been opened this spring.
which in a few years will be of great
value to lovers of the sport, for they
will contain the minutest details of all
birds that live long enough to make a
record in a race. But the most i'm
portant change this season is in the
device for marking the birds. 1t was
formerly done by marking the feathers
and attaching tag, but henceforth d
light seamless band of silyer-plated
nickel will be put around the birds leg,
every band sent out from Mrs. Starts
headquarters having different number
inscribed on it. The band is slipped
over pigeons foot as soon as it is
Matched, and so rapidly do the birds
grow that in eight days the band could
neither be removed nor similar one
put on. Yet it is never too small for
the leg, and in no way does it act to
the discomfort of the flyer. Speaking
of the general subject of pigeon flying,
Mrs. Starr said:
Il think you would be surprised if you
knew how many people keep birds for
the actual work of carrying messages.
A great many men in all of the large
cities take birds with them to their
Offices, and ut some period of the day,
when they have occasion to send word
home, they attach 4 message to the
pigeon and release it. But l suppose
that the principal incentive to the cult
walton of message birds is for racing.
Although young birds. those Matched
within the year, often make good
records, am inclined to think that
pigeon does not become fully mature
until it is tea years old. They then
seem to have the maximum of sense
and speed. In this country we have
great deal of trouble with hunters.
If they would only let the birds alone,
we should lose very few from any other
causes. Pigeons are on record that
have won races at the age of twenty.
In Belgium great deal of attention is
paid to flying, and the birds are highly
cultivated and live to a considerable
age."-N y Sun.